Stage 12 Wednesday 1 Oct: Ablain-Saint-Nazaire to Arras (22.5kms/14m)

Another day of glorious weather and good walking. It was a day of transition from the farming fields to the very urban Arras city (population 41,400). That said, the walk in was mostly on green belts with just the last kilometre or so in very built up streets. Camino signs emerged today, accompanying many of our Via waymarkers. We are intrigued … we haven’t been able to identify which Camino they relate to.

Route direction ➡️; our direction ➡️
Traffic has been heavy going into Arras every morning as we fortunately head the other way
These ruins of the ancient church in Ablain-Saint-Nazaire was our starting point today
Heading out
Into Souchez
And an open boulangerie! Its rare that there is anything on our route, let alone something open! The products look delicious…
An enigmatic Camino sign
The ruins lower left, Notre Dame de Lorette and the Lantern towards top left
Back into the farms
Very hazy this morning…
… but bright sunshine at times
Into Mont Saint Eloi
The once powerful Abbey of St Eligius. Established 6th century, dismantled during the French Revolution and further damaged during WW1
Cheeky puppies watching us very carefully
Tentative walking between barbed-wire and prickly brambles
An upcycled coal trolley
Ecoivres Military Cemetery, WW1 Canadian victims
Looking back at the Abbey ruins
Yet another WW1 cemetery
Lunch in Maroeuil
Just saying hello
A restored flour mill
With a fish ladder next to it
Out along the Scarpe River
Past this house that we all noticed!
With waterwheel intact on this end
A bit further on we see the first signs of Arras
A hero honoured
Through the Grand Prairie Park
Onto the streets of Arras
Waymarkers in the pavement
The Fountain of Neptune as we near the city centre
Into the Place des Heros… our end point today
Under the Hotel de Ville (Town Hall)
Heading out of our town house to get provisions for dinner
View from our window… that’s the enormous Grand Place/Square just across that corner
Sharing a joke before dinner
Down to the cellar to do the washing
Overjoyed with her new disinfectant
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Lyn & Gary

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